Sergeant Bernard Nathaniel Blake

Bernard Nathaniel Blake

Sergeant Bernard Blake, Staff Sergeant Terry Wright, Sergeant David Cloe, Sergeant Glen Wilson, Airman First Class Larry Hughes, and Airman Johnny Brock were killed when their UH-1F Iroquois helicopter crashed approximately 14 miles north of Wall, South Dakota.

All six Security Policemen were en route to begin the routine changeover of security personnel for guard duty at a local Missle Silo site. While en route, the pilot radioed dispatch at Ellsworth AFB that he was experiencing mechanical problems with the aircraft and would be making an emergency landing in a pasture to determine what was wrong. The pilot lost control of the aircraft while making the emergency landing and crashed on its right side, trapping the crew inside the aircraft, which became engulfed in flames. The pilot who was the lone survivor of the accident was able to escape through the pilot bubble and was rescued by another helicopter that was en route to the same missile silo to changeover security personnel.

All six Security Policemen were assigned to the 821st Military Police Squadron at Ellsworth AFB.

Sergeant Blake was a United States Air Force veteran for two years. He was survived by his wife and daughter.

He is buried in Southview Cemetery in Atlanta, Georgia.